Topics/Themes

This is a hybrid course that includes both in-class and on-line time in the requirements. This course covers design, development, and implementation of Web-based animation using Adobe Flash CS4 Professional. The student will create animations and Web interfaces. Content will include:

(Recommended) Prerequisite

CIS 212 (Take a look at the chart at the bottom of the GD Class List page for suggested course sequences)

Objectives

At the end of this course, each student will be able to:

• Work with graphics to create objects.
• Create Frame-by-frame and tweened vector animations and display them in a Web page.
• Create and edit symbols (Movie Clips, Buttons, Graphics) and use libraries to create efficient animations.
• Work with text, sound and video.
• Use Components to create interactivity quickly and easily.
• Create a Flash Web interface with rollovers, actions, and sound.
• Describe, synthesize, and apply animation design principles.
• Analyze whether animation is appropriate in a given situation.
• Analyze an animated Web site's usability and accessibility.
• Optimize and Publish Flash content.
  

Guidelines for Those New to Online Instruction

This is a fully online course, so please take advantage of these online resources to help you get the most out of this course. You may also be interested in what I as the instructor must consider to do my best.

Grading and Assignments

You will be graded on the quality of your lab assignments, interface project, participation in online class discussions, and performance on quizzes and the final exam.  You'll be provided with a scoring rubric for each assignment later in the semester. Your total grade will include the following:

Scale

A	90-100%, awarded for work that exceeds expectations and shows exceptional skill, effort, or creativity
B	80-89%, awarded for work that exceeds expectations
C	70-79%, awarded for work that meets expectations
D	60-69%, awarded for work that is below expectation

Due Dates, Make-ups, and Incompletes

Labs are due at 6 p.m. two weeks after they are assigned. For example, if I assign a lab on a Wednesday, it will be due at 6 p.m. two Wednesdays from that date. Labs lose 20% for each week late after the due date. There are 8 labs and I will allow one to be dropped.

Quizzes are due two weeks after they are assigned. Quizzes will not be accepted after the due date. I will typically make quizzes available on Wednesdays at 5 p.m. and they are due the Wednesday two weeks later at 6 p.m.

If you must miss the final exam, please contact me to arrange a make-up date well in advance of the exam. Incompletes are given only when there is an emergency and must be requested by the student as soon as possible.

Textbook for Spring 2009

	I have chosen a textbook, Flash CS4 Professional for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickStart Guide . The Cuyamaca College bookstore should have copies soon, but you will also find it on Amazon at the link above. The past two semesters I used Flash CS3 Classroom-In-A-Book which I was fairly happy with mainly because the examples used in the lessons were good examples of real-world applications.
The Visual QuickStart series typically does not have such complete examples, but they make up for it with an extremely well-organized text containing many valuable details and tips about Flash that the Classroom-In-A-Book series completely overlooks.

There is something good to be said for both approaches, and I encourage those who can afford them to invest in both. For the brave graphic design student who has a little programmer in you, I also recommend ActionScript 3.0 Animation. It contains some wonderful examples of the kind of pure graphic artistry Flash is capable of with just ActionScript.

Other good Flash Learning Resources

Visit my list of links to online Flash resources.

There is a very nice and inexpensive ($11.55+shipping) Visual Quick Project on "Creating a Web Site with Flash CS4 Professional" which you may want to consider. I am not using it for this course because its focus is too narrow (a web site on retail floral sales) and some content is quite advanced.

Lynda.com is an outstanding resource for online learning at your own pace using video tutorials, but it may be a bit expensive for your budget ($25/month, $250/year). However, the CD accompanying the required textbook contains several free video tutorials relevant to this course.

Total Training also provides online video tutorials for Flash, and they, too, have provide several free video tutorials on sound editing in Flash which you may find useful, plus a 20% discount coupon for their site.

Materials

You are encouraged to become familiar with USB flash storage technology if you plan to use campus computer labs.

It will be difficult for you to succeed in this course without your own copy of Adobe Flash (version CS3 or CS4). Please see system requirements. Campus computers will have Flash installed on both macs and pc's, so this is an option for some.

If you are planning to get serious about web development, I strongly recommend purchasing Adobe Create Suite 4 Web Standard (Flash, Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Contribute) or Web Premium (Flash, Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Contribute, Photoshop, Illustrator, SoundBooth, Acrobat). Computerland offers these at good prices:

Adobe CS4 Web Standard, $214 (Mac, PC)

Adobe CS3 Web Premium, $314 (Mac, PC)

Or you may prefer CS4 Design Premium, $314 (identical to CS4 Web Premium but with InDesign instead of Acrobat, Mac, PC)

Either of these is a great deal. Those of you focusing exclusively on the web would be fine with Web Standard. Those of you planning to emphasize graphic design will want Web Premium or Design Premium. Each of these also includes Adobe Bridge which is an excellent training resource.

Attendance

Students may be dropped for excessive absences or lack of progress in accordance with Cuyamaca College policy (see the Catalog). If you a struggling with issues unrelated to this course, please contact the Cuyamaca College Counseling Center, they have an outstanding staff who just want to help

Communication

When you send me e-mail, please include "gd222" in the subject heading.

About the Instructor

Learn more about me, Jeff Sale, your Instructor for GD222.

Academic Integrity

When creating Graphics or Web sites, treat Web content as you would treat content from a published article or book. Stealing content is unethical, and students guilty of academic dishonesty will receive a zero for the assignment and may be suspended or expelled.

Important Dates

Please mark your calendar!

This course adheres to the policies outlined in the Cuyamaca College catalogue. For further information, see Academic Policies stated in the catalogue.

Jeff Sale